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Arizona thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium arizonicum
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Biennial, Perennial
Other Names:
Arizona Thistle (Cirsium arizonicum)
Cirsium arizonicum, commonly known as Arizona thistle, is a species of thistle belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant has spiky leaves, which could potentially cause minor injury.
Considerations for Children
- This plant has spiky leaves, which could potentially cause minor injury.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cirsium arizonicum
- Common Name: Arizona thistle
- Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
- Synonym: Carduus Arizonicus
- Alternative Scientific Name: Cirsium arizonicum (A. Gray) Petr.
- Taxonomic Rank: Variety - Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the southwestern United States, including Arizona and New Mexico.
- Found in northwestern Mexico.
- Grows at elevations from 3000 to 7000 feet (914 to 2134 m).
- Typically found in canyons or at the edges of pine forests and along roadsides and in clearings in ponderosa pine forests.
- Observed in locations such as the Navajo Reservation near Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and the White Mountains of Arizona.
Morphological Characteristics
- A two-year (biennial) or short-lived perennial.
- Spends the first year as a rosette of spiky leaves.
- Grows to around 4 feet (1.2 m) tall.
- Stems are erect or ascending.
- Flowers are bright red, sometimes with a pinkish color.
- Has slender flower heads.
Interactions with other organisms
- Serves as a larval host for butterflies.
- Treehoppers have been observed on Arizona Thistle.
- Hummingbirds have been observed on Arizona Thistle flowers.